New York City Small Claims Court

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New York City Civil Court
Small Claims Part

Court Services

Mediation

Did you know that you may be able to resolve your dispute through mediation? Mediation is a free, voluntary and confidential service that helps people who have a dispute to reach their own settlement. Instead of asking a judge to make a decision in court, the people meet with a trained mediator who helps them make their own decision on how to settle the dispute. If a settlement is reached, it is then put in writing and signed. This written settlement then becomes a legal contract. If the people in the dispute are not able to reach an agreement that is acceptable to everyone involved, they are then free to ask a judge to hear there case and make a decision in court.

For more information, you may contact Andrew D. Lewis, Mediation Services Coordinator, at 646 386-5727 or send an email to MediationCivil@courts.state.ny.us. You may also read more about mediation in the publication " Resolving Your Case Through Mediation."

Interpreters

In this diverse city, where many litigants speak numerous languages other than English, it often becomes necessary to provide a neutral interpreter to interpret for one or more parties in a case. The Civil Court employs full time interpreters in Spanish, Creole, Mandarin and Cantonese Chinese, and Russian. Temporary per diem interpreters are arranged by the court for all languages other than those listed previously. The court also employs a sign language interpreter. Only official court interpreters may interpret in court proceedings. There is no charge for the use of an interpreter.

Court Reporters

Court reporters are employed by the Civil Court to record and provide transcripts of court proceedings. There is no charge for the recording of a court proceeding by a court reporter. The cost of obtaining a transcript, which is a typed document of the court proceeding, is most often paid for by the litigants. Persons eligible for poor person's relief may be able to obtain a transcript without cost. Arrangements to obtain and pay for a transcript are made directly with the reporter or reporters who recorded the proceeding. Litigants involved in a proceeding should obtain the name and telephone number of the court reporter prior to the conclusion of the matter. In the event that information is needed regarding a court reporter's name and contact information, a litigant may contact the part where the case was heard or the Judge if there is no clerk assigned to the part.

Childcare Centers

The Civil Court has childcare centers in Queens and Manhattan for use without charge by litigants who have civil cases. There is also a childcare center in the Bronx Housing Court. Litigants may leave a child or children in our childcare centers when they have a case in the courthouse:

Bronx Housing - ages 6 weeks to 7 years
New York Civil - ages 3 months to 7 years
Queens Civil - 6 weeks to 12 years

At the current time the child care centers are not available to jurors. A courtroom is not an ideal setting for a child. Parents are urged to use our childcare centers which are operated by Safe Horizons. They are brightly decorated and provide snacks and age appropriate activities for the children.

Help Centers

There are six Help Centers in the New York City Civil Court buildings. The Help Center is a place where a person without a lawyer can go to get free legal and procedural information on how to proceed in court. Each Help Center has Court Attorneys trained to give legal and procedural information on Housing, Civil and Small Claims Court procedures, free brochures, pamphlets and booklets on legal topics, free internet for legal help, videos and community seminars to watch, and information about legal help, rental help and social services help.

Learn more about the Help Centers, including hours and locations.

Guardian Ad Litem

Under CPLR § 1202, a judge may appoint a Guardian Ad Litem to appear on behalf of an adult determined to be incompetent and incapable of adequately protecting his or her rights in a case. The Civil Court administers a program which provides a pool of lawyers and non-lawyers who are trained by the court to serve as Guardians Ad Litem. In some cases guardians are compensated for their services and in others the guardian serves on a volunteer basis.

Security

Security in the Civil Court is provided by Uniform Court Officers, who pass a civil service test and successfully complete a training program through the Court Officer Training Academy. Some court officers are trained in emergency medical procedures, such as CPR and respond to medical emergencies in the courthouse until Emergency Medical Services arrives. Court officers are assigned to courtrooms and other public areas. Any security concerns from the public should be brought to the attention of any uniformed court officer.

ADA

The Civil Court of the City of New York has representatives in each of its county divisions to assist members of the public and attorneys with any ADA issues that may arise. These concerns include, but are not limited to, access to this court's facilities, case and procedural information, assistive listening devices, etc.

If any assistance is needed you can contact these representatives at the following numbers:

New York - Stewart Feigel, 646 386 5730

Harlem - Charles Lopez, 212 828 7558

Bronx Civil - William Gonzalez, 718 618 2552
Tanisha LaCruise, 718 618 2518
Danine Bernier, 718 618 2561

Bronx Housing - Kim Novy, 718 466 3014

Kings - Audrey McGiver, 347 404 9201

Queens - Marvin Rose, 718 262 7300

Richmond - Deborah Tortorice, 718 390 5422

All Civil Court buildings and bathrooms are wheelchair accessible.

Volunteer Lawyers Project

The Civil Court runs a Volunteer Lawyers Project to help self-represented litigants - people who do not have a lawyer. Volunteer lawyers work in the Court’s Help Centers alongside experienced and knowledgeable Help Center Court Attorneys, also known as Pro Se Attorneys.

Volunteer lawyers trained by the Project provide free legal information and advice in Housing, Civil and Small Claims cases. They review court papers, discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the case, help fill out forms, and help plan the next steps in the case. Volunteer lawyers do not go to court or file papers.

Learn when a volunteer lawyer will be in your county.

Interactive Telephone Service

Another valuable Civil Court service is the interactive telephone service, which provides legal and procedural information. It is available at (646) 386-5700 for general Civil and Small Claims matters or (646) 386-5750 for Housing matters. The service is also provided 24 hours and is available in Spanish.

[ www.NYCOURTS.gov ]